8 candidates finally vie for mayoral post

A total of eight candidates have been vying for the mayoral post of Chittagong City Corporation, 249 for ward councilor and 59 for councilor posts reserved for women in the election scheduled on June 17.
Sources at the district election office said five candidates for the post of mayor, 54 for ward councilor and seven for councilor posts reserved for women had withdrawn their candidature on the last date for withdrawal on Tuesday.
According to the sources, Citizens’ Committee nominated and Awami League supported ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Chittagong Development Movement nominated and BNP supported M Manjur Alam Manju, Jatiya Party nominated Solaiman Alam Sheth and independent candidates Jan-e-Alam, Sayad Sazzad Joha, Rafiqul Alam, Mofazzal Hossain Bhuyan and Mohammed Ibrahim have been contesting for the post of CCC mayor.
The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami nominated Afsaruddin Chowdhury withdrew his candidature in support of BNP-backed mayoral candidate M Manjur Alam Manju while Bangladesh Islami Front candidate M Solaiman Farid, Awami League leaders Ishaque Mia and Rezaul Karim withdrew their candidature in support of AL backed candidate ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury.
Independent candidate Saifuddin Ahmed Robi also withdrew his candidature, but refrained from extending support to any other candidate, sources added.
AL backed candidate ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and his major rival BNP backed M Manjur Alam Manju continued electoral campaigns at different parts of the city while the other mayoral candidates were not much active in their campaigns.
The former mayor Mohiuddin conducted mass contact at Eidgaon WAPDA Colony, Abul Company Office at Saraipara, Moyori Community Center at Uttar Kattali, Nizam Market at Daksin Patenga and CDA residential area at Agrabad and exchanged views with the businessmen at Patenga beach area.
The Chittagong Development Movement nominated Manju conducted mass contact at Sabok Colony in Patharghata area and Visited the graveyards of late AL leaders Jahur Ahmed Chowdhury and MA Mannan and met their family members.